Astronomers using the VLT Survey Telescope at ESO’s Paranal Observatory in Chile have captured a stunning new image of the nebula Gum 80.
This VST image shows Gum 80, a nebula located roughly 6,000 light-years away in the constellation of Serpens. Image credit: ESO / VPHAS+ Team.
Gum 80 is located roughly 6,000 light-years away in the constellation of Serpens.
Also known as Sh2-46, RCW 158 or LBN 58, the nebula is 14.5 light-years across.
“The strong red hues of Gum 80 might be beautiful, but they hide an impostor,” ESO astronomers said in a statement.
“The big blue-white star at the center of the image is HD 165319, an O-type star, one of the brightest, but rarest types of stars in the Universe.”
“The star is largely responsible for the striking red tones around it, caused by the ionization of the hydrogen atoms that make up the nebula.”
“HD 165319, however, should not be here,” they said.
“We think that this star was born somewhere else — in the nearby Eagle Nebula.”
“Located in the tail section of the Serpens constellation, the Eagle Nebula is full of star-forming regions.”
“Once born, these stars become bound by gravity, creating a giant open cluster.”
“Sometimes, though, a few of them become disentangled, embarking on a solitary mission through space that can lead them to infiltrate other unrelated nebulae.”
“A bow shock next to HD 165319 seems to indicate that the star is currently plunging through Gum 80.”
“Perhaps this nebula will end up looking differently if the star ends up leaving it behind.”
“The highly detailed picture of Gum 80 was taken by the VLT Survey Telescope (VST), which explores the sky in visible light,” the researchers said.
“Currently owned by INAF, the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics, the VST is located at ESO’s Paranal Observatory, in Chile.”
